Tuesday, November 24, 2015

November 23, 2015 (US Department of Defense) The United States has begun the
second phase of its Fearless Guardian mission to train and equip Ukrainian
forces, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said today. The United
States has committed more than $265 million in equipment and training to the
mission, Davis told reporters at the Pentagon.

The
effort, which Congress approved in 2014, is to help Ukraine better monitor and
secure its border, operate more safely and effectively, and preserve and
enforce its territorial integrity, the spokesman said."This is part of our
ongoing efforts to contribute to Ukraine's long-term military reform and
professionalism, and to help improve Ukraine's internal defense capabilities
and training capacity," Davis said.

The
phase that began today will train up to five battalions of Ministry of Defense
personnel and one battalion of special operations forces personnel, he said. U.S.
forces just completed training Ukrainian national guard forces. About
300 U.S. soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are participating in the
training, which is taking place in western Ukraine. NATO allies and other U.S.
personnel are participating as well.

Davis
said that in addition to the training, the United States will be working with
the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on a training center and other
institution-level development.The Ministry of Defense training will be conducted at
the International Peacekeeping and Security Center at Yavoriv, and the special
operations forces training will be conducted in Khmelnitsky.